FaceBook miniature tools ads

[jmlyle]

I am sure many of you have seen these ads showing micro lathes, milling Machines and table saws.

Has anyone tried to buy one of these? I  don't really trust these sites so I am wondering if they are legit and do you get something that is good quality.

[wefalck]

Could you post pictures of these machines to better understand what you are talking about?

 

[Gregory]

Whatever you are seeing on Facebook can probably be found on a site you would be more comfortable with like Amazon or Walmart

 

These 'cheap' tools are all coming from China and can be found on may different sites.

 

I never click through adds on Facebook because scams are rampant there.

 

Checking here at MSW is always a good screening process.

Edited yesterday at 06:35 PM by Gregory

[wefalck]

That's why I was asking for some pictures. One can then comment on possible qualities and point to reliable sources.

[jmlyle]

  On 3/16/2025 at 6:49 PM, wefalck said:

That's why I was asking for some pictures. One can then comment on possible qualities and point to reliable sources.

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Here are some photos. I am just curious about there quality. As I have a Burnes table saw and a Unimat 3 I don't see me buying them but if they ate good I would recommend them to new modellers. 

Edited 5 hours ago by jmlyle

[Gregory]

Table saw:  $80 on Amazon

The quality is probably adequate for small modeling jobs.  Probably not up to precision thin strip ripping for planking.

There are several variations as you will see on Amazon.  I haven't seen anyone here talking about having one.

 

Drill Press $90 on Amazon.

There was a discussion about it here:

Innocraftsman is just another storefront for a lot of those China sourced tools.   Their  prices are considerably more than other places like Amazon, Temu, Ali Express and others.

[wefalck]

The drill-press actually looks very well-made and if I didn't have my antique miniature watchmakers drill-press, I would consider it. However, one should check, whether someone offers a version for ER11 collets, rather than the bulky and likely unprecise drill-chuck.

 

As to the tablesaw (and similar machines on offer), one should perhaps consider them as 'kits in an advanced stage of manufacture'. It may be cheaper to buy such kit and modify it to one's needs, than to buy the individual components. With a bit of effort, these machines can be turned into useful tools.

 

[Thukydides]

  15 hours ago, wefalck said:

The drill-press actually looks very well-made and if I didn't have my antique miniature watchmakers drill-press, I would consider it.

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I have a version of that drill press which I got from Amazon. It looks a little different, but many of the parts used to make it are the same. So far it has worked great for me. The only issue I had was the height was insufficient to fit a mini x-y table under it, but that was easily rectified by buying a slightly longer stainless steel rod.

 

Edited 11 hours ago by Thukydides

[Gregory]

I have an identical setup as yours including the rod modification.

The one shown above from Innocraftsman, while it looks well made, looks limited in its usefulness.  The clearance between the head and the table as well as no apparent head travel stop setting.

[Thukydides]

  11 hours ago, Gregory said:

I have an identical setup as yours including the rod modification

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You were the inspiration for my setup 😄.